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RI, Dutch set for more tangible, equal partnership
Indonesia and the Netherlands are set to bring their relations to new heights by agreeing on a Joint Declaration on a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement, in which the two countries will express their wish for a more tangible and equal partnership
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ndonesia and the Netherlands are set to bring their relations to new heights by agreeing on a Joint Declaration on a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement, in which the two countries will express their wish for a more tangible and equal partnership.
The agreement for a strengthened relationship will be delivered during an official visit of Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte to Jakarta from Nov. 20 to 22.
Rutte will meet President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono as well as Vice President Boediono and focus on strengthening the political and economic ties between the two countries.
'They will close their meeting with a Joint Declaration on a Comprehensive Partnership Agreement, in which the two countries will express their wish for an equal and future-oriented partnership,' the Dutch Embassy said in a statement sent to The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Rutte will be accompanied by two ministers ' Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation Minister Lilianne Ploumen and Agriculture Minister Sharon Dijksma ' and a big business delegation that is regarded 'the largest such delegation ever to visit Indonesia'.
The chair of the Dutch employers' organization VNO-NCW, Bernard Wientjes, and a trade mission of 15 CEOs and representatives of more than 100 Dutch companies will be part of the prime minister's delegation, which will make new contacts and strengthen existing ones at various seminars, and on visits to local companies and at the Indonesia-Netherlands Business Dinner.
The forum will offer the business community excellent opportunities, especially in agriculture, horticulture, food processing, water, infrastructure, logistics and health care.
The Netherlands and Indonesia have long enjoyed strong political, cultural and economic ties. The country is Indonesia's second-biggest trading partner in Europe. In 2012, trade between the two countries was worth ¤3.5 billion (US$ 4.7 billion).
Rutte is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday evening and his official program will begin on Wednesday morning, with a plenary conference with Dutch and Indonesia business representatives, discussing ways to strengthen economic cooperation. The two ministers will attend separate sessions on infrastructure, health, agri-food and horticulture.
While Rutte speaks with Indonesian alumni of Dutch universities, Ploumen will visit a health center, where she will discuss how Dutch specialists in health and life sciences can help Indonesia achieve universal health coverage in 2014.
On Thursday, Rutte and Ploumen will discuss large-scale sea defenses that Indonesia is planning with Dutch assistance. The aim is to protect the population against flooding while developing the coastal region around Jakarta.
Rutte will then visit a dredger belonging to Rotterdam-based marine contractor Van Oord, whose representatives will describe the company's part in the expansion of the Jakarta port.
On Friday, he will open the Sustainable Production and Trade Forum and will lay a wreath at the Heroes Monument in Kalibata and at the Menteng Pulo Dutch War Cemetery.
